An unplanned journey A change of direction The meeting of two lost heartsWhen Evan Brooks sets out to repair his fractured relationship with his family, a broken-down car and an unplanned detour lead him to Holly Cole. Her eyes captivate him. Her words comfort him.Her heart warms him.Is she the unexpected gift he’s longed for?Is this just a detour, or the road to happiness?Find out in this … to happiness?
Find out in this heartwarming Christmas story.
What is Insta-Spark?
When you want a bit of naughty along with the nice. Insta-Spark series from Melanie Moreland are complete standalone reads with one thing in common – lots of sweetness and a guaranteed HEA. Instant attraction, little angst – love and happiness abounds in this series.
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Life always takes you on unexpected twist and turns. This story brings together two broken hearts in the most unique way. Melanie takes you on a quick love story that leaves you wondering how the story will end. You find yourself smiling, crying and screaming with anger all within this short read. Melanie always throws you on an unexpected twist and really pulls the story full circle. This book is a great holiday quick read!
Evan has always valued different things in his life than his family which has always left him feeling like he is on the outside looking on. He has created the kind of life he wants to live away from them but has decided to surprise them with a visit for Christmas. When his car breaks down was it fate or circumstance that led him to the diner where Holly works.
All Holly has ever wanted is a place to call home but a childhood of bouncing around from place to place has left her feeling alone. From the moment that Evan and Holly meet they are drawn to each other in a way that neither has ever felt before even though they both know it is only temporary.
This is a heartbreaking and heartwarming story about two people who realize that family is not biology but love.
Evan isn’t close to his family, but he does want to spend Christmas with them. On his way to his family home, he has some car trouble. Evan walks into a diner, searching for help, and there he meets a waitress named Holly. Evan and Holly get talking and keep doing that the whole night. Holly takes Evan to her home, because they don’t want the night to be over. Evan doesn’t want to say goodbye to Holly the next day and he stays longer with her than he had planned.
Holly is hardworking, kind, lonely and loving. Evan is hardworking, gentle, kind and lonely. Holly and Evan are amazing together. There was definitely an instant spark between them. They love and want to be together. They just fit perfectly. In the end, they will never be lonely again.
An Unexpected Gift is a wonderful, heartwarming novella. It may be a novella, but it’s packed with love, emotions and hotness. I love Melanie Moreland’s epilogues, because they are so beautiful. I always look forward to reading them. The epilogue of An Unexpected Gift was no different. It was the perfect ending of Holly and Evan’s love story.
Melanie Moreland’s Insta-spark collection is a great group of short stories. This newest addition is so good. A condensed story of instant connection and love at first sight. Our hero, Evan & heroine, Holly are 2 people alone in world for different reasons. A broken down car in a storm brings them together. Holly’s caring nature has Evan continue his well intentioned journey to reconnect with his family at the cost of her happiness. It’s a sweet story, with a happy ending & one of the best epilogues I’ve ever read.
Who needs Hallmark Channel
Forget about Hallmark and their mushy cringy movies lol. This is all you need to get all the holidays feelings. Evan was on his way to try to mend his relationship with his family but car trouble lands him to the hands a lovely Holly. Both Evan and Holly have loved a very lonely life since children. Will this encounter be the unexpected gift they needed for the holidays to find happiness.
The Unexpected Gift is an absolutely perfect sweet and swoony Christmas novella. It is an easy to read, low angst story.
“There will never be another diner—or another you, Angel.”
Evan and Holly discover in each other the family that they have always craved.
The Unexpected Gift is is part of the Insta-Sparks series but is a complete standalone. The spark is instant but the story is full, well rounded and complete. I absolutely loved this holiday story!
-5 Stars!-
A cute , quick read if you like Christmas stories. Melanie always writes good characters. There’s a small amount of angst and a bit of a surprise at the end. Go grab a copy!
This is sweet and lovely, one to read whilst snuggled up in a blanket, in front of a toasty fire drinking your cocoa. Evan and Holly meet due to a twist of fate, but in each other they find their happiness and bring out each others strengths. I liked how the story progressed through time, giving some snapshots of how their story progressed. At times the sweetness was a little much for me, but I liked the overall feeling of optimism, and family.
Melanie certainly knows how to write perfect holiday romances! I loved Evan and his angel, Holly, and everything about their instant connection. I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, that just because these are not full-length novels, don’t think you’re not getting fully developed characters and plot integrity because you certainly are! I love these Insta-Spark books so much and look forward to the next Christmas and the next Unexpected Gift from this author!
What a fantastic story.
I love stories where people fall in love quick!
Evans car breaks down and he finds himself at a diner in the middle of nowhere.
Holly works at this diner in the middle of nowhere.
****Sparks****
They end up spending some days together that change their lives.
Sometimes people come into your life at a time when you need them and they become important so quick.
This book is also a good reminder that family doesn’t always mean the family you were born into.
4.5 Stars!
Evan Brooks lives a peaceful life in a small town on the East Coast. He makes a spur of the moment decision to go driving across the country two days before Christmas to visit his family. Along the way he gets lost on a snowy road. His car breaks down, and he has no clue where he is when he stumbles upon a quaint little diner. He meets a gorgeous woman named Holly Cole he finds himself drawn to. They are two lonely people who just clicked, and enjoy spending time together. They both feel a once in a lifetime connection they can’t explain. She cared for him and showed him kindness he wasn’t used to. His trip took a pleasant, unexpected detour, and brought him the greatest gift. She was just what he needed, and felt like home. How could he feel so deeply for someone he just met? People didn’t fall in love in a day, yet he couldn’t deny how he felt. He desperately wanted more time with her, but they are on two separate paths in life. When it’s time to leave will he be able to walk away? Was she just an unforgettable moment in his life, or is there a chance they could have a future together?
An Unexpected Gift (Insta-Spark #4) by Melanie Moreland is a complete standalone novella where an unplanned journey brings two soulmates together for the holidays. It’s a beautiful, heartwarming Christmas romance that mixes a little naughty with a little nice. It’s a steamy, sweet story with instant attraction, and unconditional love. I really enjoyed this book. It’s the perfect read for the holidays!
Like always Melanie Moreland has me loving yet another coupld of her’s. Evan found everything he didn’t know that he was looking for or needing in Holly. The same goes for Holly. They found the unconditional love that they were both needing in each other all on one faithful night. They not only embrace the love that they never knew they were looking for as well as the spirit of the holidays.
What a truly sweet, angst free novella. A perfect holiday read, following Evan Brooks and Holly Cole as they meet unexpectedly during the holidays. Two lost, lonely souls, two kind, sweet hearts that never knew they were missing that one special person in their lives. For different reasons, both not having a family to call their very own. However, It doesn’t take Evan long to realise he needs Holly in his life for the long haul, and herein lies their perfect life with so many unexpected surprises. A lovely story, wonderful writing, and some adorable characters, make this a truly enjoyable read.
The Best Surprise!
Melanie Moreland has done it again! She had me fully invested in this brief but enrapturing love story. Her ability to make the connection between two characters feel soul deep from the moment they meet is remarkable. It is a beautiful gift that shines bright in the glow of winter snow, the kindness of a stranger, and the magic of Christmas. This holiday romance is packed with emotion and passion. It will keep you warm on a cold winter’s night. The epilogues (more than one!) in this novella will wrap this story tightly around your heart. An Unexpected Gift is a joyful and triumphant, read!
A wonderful read to start off the holidays. I love Evan and Holly together. They were perfect for each other.
A bump in the road steers two wandering hearts right where they need to be. Holly and Evan are the sweetest kind of sin. Wrapped within the heartache is a tale of forgiveness that gives emotions a warmth that feels almost like a hug. Moreland continues to blend heartwarming romance with emotional drama and deliver unforgettable stories. An Unexpected Gifts gives your soul a tingle and your heart a smile.
What’s not to love about a romance set durning the most magical time of the year add in that’s its written by the very talented Melanie Moreland and you have a recipe for success. An Unexpected Gift is Evan Brooks and Holly Cole’s story and first off I need to say they are adorable and I’m sure like me you will fall big time for them as you get to know their story.
A chance meeting turns into so much more as this couple realise what they have both been subconsciously looking for and that’s unconditional love and being the person who will always come first in their partners eyes…….
A couple finding love when they least expect it, a romance that will touch you on so many levels and characters you will love make this a perfect sweet entertaining read. It’s romance at its best and all I’m going to say is it’s a must read !!!!!
This Insta-Spark Christmas Romance by Melanie Moreland is much more than a spark, it’s a heart-warming hearth complete with Holly and stockings. Maybe a cat named Chester curled up in front on a cosy blanket. It has all the feels and tingles a good holiday tale should give you along with the romance and excellent writing skills we have come to expect from Melanie.
Evan Brooks was a lonely man on a solitary journey he had no desire to make but felt he had to. When his car broke down in a snowstorm two days before Christmas and he walked into a tiny diner in the middle of the night half frozen, he never expected to find an angel. But an angel indeed is who he found in Holly Cole, another lonely soul who was working at the diner that night.
These two found the other half of themselves they had been missing. But Evan had some family matters that needed to be taken care of first. Did he have the strength to stand up to his family? Could these few days together really be enough for them to know they belonged together? Did Christmas weave her magic around them to give them each the best holiday either had ever had? Sometimes the unexpected gifts are the best gifts ever. And they are the gift that keeps giving and giving over the years.
This wonderful novella was short but never felt rushed, sweet but not soaked in sugar. Just right. Just perfect for your wrapped up in a blanket cosy wintertime read. I know you will love it just as much as I did!
The sweetest holiday story this year.
An Unexpected Gift by Melanie Moreland is the newest installment of the “Insta-Spark’ series. And just like the title, this novella was an unexpected gift to Ms. Morleand’s readers. It’s a quick read, just a couple of hours, really, but it is sweet, tender and sensual instead of outright sexy. The ‘Insta-Spark’ comes with the meeting of waitress Holly Cole and antiques restorer, Evan Brooks.
One broken-down car, one chance meeting and the lives of two people are irrevocably changed forever.
I loved this gentle love story from start to finish. One-Click your copy of this heart-warming, feel-good novella.
This surprise novella was the perfect holiday read! Evan and Holly warmed my heart and made me feel so much lighthearted happiness that I can’t even handle it. This addition to the Insta-Spark Series is wonderfully amazing!! That epilogue *sigh*